Amiprilose hydrochloride for rheumatoid arthritis

Article Abstract:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a joint disease characterized by inflammation of the joints, stiffness, swelling, overgrowth of cartilage, and pain. Amiprilose hydrochloride, a new synthetic carbohydrate, can prevent inflammation and modulate or control the immune system. The effectiveness and safety of this new agent was assessed in 201 patients with RA. Amiprilose decreased the number of painful and swollen joints, joint pain and swelling, and improved left and right grip strength, and patient and investigator assessed fewer symptoms within four to six weeks of treatment. Forty-one percent of amiprilose-treated patients compared with 21 percent of patients given a placebo (a substance with no therapeutic effect) showed improvement of disease activity. Amiprilose-treated patients took less analgesic or pain-relieving medication. There were no differences between amiprilose-treated patients and patients receiving placebo in morning stiffness, walking time, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (speed at which red blood cells settle), and C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor (natural substances released from the body under disease conditions such as RA). Amiprilose-treated patients and patients receiving placebo experienced similar incidents of adverse effects. One patient given amiprilose developed thrombocytopenia, a decrease in platelets, which are blood cells involved in clotting; no other serious adverse effects were observed. The results show that amiprilose is an effective and safe anti-inflammatory agent for treating RA. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects, Inflammation, Anti-inflammatory drugs, Anti-inflammatory agents

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Minocycline treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Article Abstract:

Minocycline appears to have beneficial effects in persons with rheumatoid arthritis, and further research is warranted to determine its mechanism of action. Minocycline is an antibiotic related to tetracycline. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints. Two studies comparing minocycline to placebo showed that both symptoms and biochemical indicators of rheumatoid arthritis improved with minocycline treatment. This suggests that a bacterial infection may contribute to rheumatoid arthritis. Mycoplasma and Chlamydia have been implicated as possible infective organisms. Another possibility is that minocycline has anti-inflammatory properties. Research has shown that tetracyclines inhibit certain enzymes involved in inflammatory processes. Clinical studies comparing minocycline to non-tetracycline antibiotics would be useful in determining its physiological effects. Also, testing minocycline in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients should be pursued.

Health aspects, Editorial, Antibiotics, Tetracyclines

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The effectiveness of early treatment with "second-line" antirheumatic drugs: a randomized, controlled trial

Article Abstract:

It may be advisable to introduce stronger drugs earlier in the disease cycle in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers compared the effectiveness of using disease treating drugs such as intramuscular gold, hydroxychloroquine, or methotrexate against using the traditional initial treatment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in 238 new patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The 181 patients taking the disease treating drugs scored 19% to 26% better than the 57 patients taking only NSAIDS on tests of joint pain, joint function, and blood tests that may indicate inflammation status. They saw this beneficial effect at both 6-months and 12-months following the start of treatment. Joint damage as measured on X-rays, however, was similar for both treatment groups as treatment progressed. The most common side effect reported with the disease treating drugs was stomach and intestinal symptoms (28%).

Antirheumatic agents

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